Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-07-16

"John," said Silas Croft, suddenly, "you
must GO up to Pretoria and fetch jess. Mark
my words, the Beers viii besiege Pretoria,
and If we don't get her down at once she will
be shut up there"
"Oh, no,n cried Bessie, in sudden alarm, II
cannot let John 60"
II am sorry to hear yon talk like that, Hes-
sic, when your sister is in danger" answered
her uncle. rather sternly: "but there, / dare
say that it is natural. will 60 myself. Where
is Jantjea shall want the Cape cart and the
four gray horses"
'No, uncle dear, John shall GO was not
thinking what I was saying. 1t seenled-a
little hard at first" -. 5,s..
aOf coarse must go,r said John, aDont
fret, dear; 1 shall be back in 1--WE days. Those
four horses can go sixty miles a day for that
time, and more. They are fat as butter. and
there is lots Of grass along the road if can't
get forage for them. Besides, the cart viii
be nearly empty, SO / can carry muid of
mealies and fifty bundles OF forage with me-
will take that Zula boy, Mouti tlnedicine)
with me. He does not know much about
horses, but he is plucky fellow, and would
stick 10y one at pinch. One can't rely on
Jantjc; he is always sneaking Off somewhere,
and would be sure to get drunk just as one
wanted him."
ayes, yes, John, that's right, that's right"
said the old man. II will go and see about
having the horses got UP and the wheels
creased. Where is the castor OIL Bessies
There is nothing like castor oil for these
patent axles. You ought to be off in an hour.
You had better sleep at Luck's tonight; you
might get farther, but Luck's is a good place
to stop, and they will look after you well
there, and you can be off by 5 in the morning
and be ut Heidelberg by 10 O'Clock tomorrow
night and in Pretoria by the next afternoon"
and he hustled off to make the necessary
preparations.
"Oh, john" said Bessie beginning to cry, u
don't like your going at all among those wild
Beers. You are an English officer, and il
they find you out they will shoot you. You
don't know what brutes some Of them are
when they think it safe to be So Oh, John,
John, L can't bear your going"
"Cheer up, my dear" said John, @and for
Heavens sake stop crying, for can't bear it
must go. Your uncle would never forgive
me if didn't, and, what is more, l should
never forgive myself. There Is nobody else
to go, and we can't leave jess to be shut up
there in Pretoria-for months perhaps. As
for the risk of course there is bit of risk,
but l must take it. am not afraid of risks
at least used not to be, but you have made
bit of coward of me, Bessie dear. There,
give me a kiss, old girl, and come and help
me to pack my things. Please God shall
get bark all right, and Jess with me, IN q
week from now"
Whereon Bessie, being q sensible and emf
nently practical young woman, dried her
tears, and with cheerful face, albeit her
heart was heavy enough, set to work with a
will to make every preparation she could
think of. The few clothes John was going to
take with him were packed in Gladstone
bag, and the box that was arranged under
meath the movable seat in the Cape cart
was filled with the timed provisions that are
ITO BE CONTINUED